


H«*»W<§^3us<2.n, Louis ^. 



t^f tV»<2 Qcn^an- Awcnca«rv5 »*> BaiW,on.v| 
during ^ie ; ' '*ii^«=> - >860. 






Class Eil3- 

Book_BiM 



REMINISCENCES 



OF THE 



Political Life o( the German-tlmeficans in Daltimofe 



DURING THE YEARS 



1850 — 1860, 



Si H^ 



REMINISCENCES 

OF THE 

Political Life of the German-Americans in 

Baltimore During the Years 

1850 — i860. 



Continued from Page 59 — Seventh Anniiat Report. 



PART II. 



By LOUIS P. HENNIGHAUSEN. 



lEFORE I continue my narrative of the persecution and 
sufferings of tlie German-Americans under the regime 
of the xlmerican Party in the City of Baltimore dur- 
ing the years of 1850 to 1860, I deem it necessary, for a bet- 
ter understanding of the political situation of those years, to 
refer more at length to the conduct of a part of the Ger- 
man-Americans in the Country at large, which to some ex- 
tent influenced the formation of the American, so-called 
Know-Nothifig Party. 

The immigration had from the year IS-tO increased to 
about 400,000 and more persons annually, being each year in 
numbers about equal to the total number of inhabitants of 
such States as Maryland, North Carolina, Alal)ama, (xeorgia, 



and twice the number of such States as Louisiana and South 
Carolina. H these immigrants were inimical to slavery, it 
was an easy arithmetical problem to figure the time, when 
slavery would be abolished, and the author of the celebrated 
Madison Letters in defense of the American Party, laid great 
stress on this coming result. The literary and leading men 
of the German immigration of these years, with some excep- 
tions, shared the political views of those Ave have seen active 
in our City of Baltimore. The temerity of the so-styled free 
(iermans in Louisville, Ky., and Eichmond, Va., however ex- 
ceeded our Baltimore champions. In Louisville they adopted 
and published in the year 1854 a political platform from 
whif^li we cull the following. It reads : 

L tSlavertj Question. — Notwithstanding that we consider 
Slavery to be a political and moral cancer, that will by and 
l)y undermine all Eepublicanism, we deem its siulden aboli- 
tion neither possible nor advisable. But we, as Republicans 
and men. demand that the further extension of Slavery be 
not constantly urged, whilst not a single step is taken for 
its extermination. We demand in particular. Slavery be ex- 
cluded from all the new territories indiscriminately and for 
ever, etc., etc. 

2. ReUfjmis Question. — We consider the right of free 
expression of religious conscience untouchable, etc. Religion 
is a private matter, it has nothing to do with politics, hence 
it is despotism to comjiel citizens by political means to re- 
ligious manifestations or omissions contrary to their private 
persuasions. We therefore hold the Sabbath laws, thanks- 
giving days, prayers in Congress and Legislatures, the oaths 
upon the Bible, the introduction of the Bible into the free 
schools, the exclusion of "atheists'' from legal acts, etc., as 
an open violation of human rights as well as of the CVinsti- 
tution, and therefore demand their removal. 

3. Measures for the, Welfare of the People. — The public 
lands ought to be given free to the actual settler, and poor 
settlers to be aided by the National Government ; a Depart- 
ment of Immigration for the colonization of immigrants to 
be created; a ten hour lat)or day; security for wage-earners 



and preference for Union Workmen; free schools, and Ger- 
man teachers where there are German settlements; the Con- 
stitution of the United States to be amended so that: 
L All elections shall he directly by the people, 

2. That a citizen from another State or District is eli- 
. gible, 

3. That a representative in Congress or Senate may be 
recalled by a majority of his constitnents, 

4. Secnre free trade, 

7. That woman shall have ecpnd rights with men, 

8. Eqnal rights of all men liefore the law, 

9. Abolition of penal laws. 

The Free German Society in Eichmond, V;i., demanded: 

1. Universal suffrage, 

2. The election of all officers by the people, 

3. The abolition of the Presidency, 

4. The abolition of the Senates, so that all Legislatures 
shall consist of one branch only, 

5. The right of the people to recall their representatives 
at their pleasure, 

G. The right of the people to change the Constitution 
when they like, 

7. All law-suits to be conducted without expense,. 

8. A department of the Government to be set up for 
the purpose of protecting immigmtion, 

9. A reduced term for immigrants to actpiire citizen- 
ship. 

Reform in the Foreign Relntions of the Government : — 

1. Abolition of all neutrality, 

2. Intervention in favor of every people strngglino- for 
liberty. 

Reform in what relates to Religions: — 

1. A more perfect development of the principle of per- 
sonal freedom and Jiberty of conscience; consequently, a) abo- 
lition of laws for the observance of the Sabbath; b)"^abolition 



of prayers in Congress; c) abolition of oath ujion tlie Bi])le; 
d) repeal of laws enacting a religions test before taking an 
office. 

2. Taxation of church property, 

3. A prohibition of incorporations of all churc]! proj)- 
erty in the name of ecclesiastics. 

Reform in Social Condition: — 

1. Abolition of all land monopoly, 

2. Ad valorum taxation of property, 

3. Amelioration of the condition of the working class, 
a) l)y lessening the time of work to eight hours for grown 
persons and to five honrs for cliildreu; b) by incorporation 
of Mechanics' Associations and Protective Societies; c) by 
granting a preference to mechanics before all other creditors; 
d) by establishing, at public expense, an asylum for super- 
annuated mechanics without means. 

4. Education of poor children l)y the tState, 

5. Taking possession of railroads by the State, 

G. The promotion of education: a) by the introduction 
of free schools, Avith the power of enforcing parents to send 
their children to school, and prohibition of all clerical in- 
fluence; b) by instruction in the German language; c) by es- 
tablishing a German University. 

7. The supporting of the slave emancipation exertions 
of Cassins M. Clay by Congressional laws. 

8. Abolition of the Christian system of iDunishment and 
introduction of the humane amelioration system. 

9. Abolition of capital punishment. 

There was certainly enough in these platforms, at the 
time they were published, to set the world on fire ; but they 
also show what a set of impractical harmless visionaries these 
men were. It is to be remarked that among their versatile 
demands of reform, we find some of the earliest beginning of 
economic and political questions which in our days have 
grown to importance. I refer to the Labor Organizations and 
Hailroads, etc. I do not understand why these men were in 
those days always alluded to as ignorant foreigners, unless it 



was on the ground that the si)eakers and writers did not 
understand them. 

These men, a minute fraction of tlie large German im- 
migration, brought with their jiaradoxical demands a great 
deal of harm to the great mass of their' fellow immigrants, 
who, instead of making political platforms, were engaged in 
building churches and school houses, which last into our 
days. 

About those years the old Whig Party had been com- 
pletely wrecked by the victorious Democratic Party. The 
northern fragments of the former Whig Party joined the 
young Eepublican Party, the southern fragments could not 
do so on account of the Slavery question, and their politi- 
cians being without a job, Avere tishing for some popular sen- 
timents to build a new party, antagonistic to their old enemy, 
the Democratic Party. 

The hatred of foreigners is not confined to the Chinese, 
it is found everywhere on this globe and increases in the 
same ratio, as ignorance prevails among the lower classes. 
A language not understood is gibberish, and the man who 
does not understand you, appears dumb, stupid and ignorant 
to you. Add to this the fact, that the mass of the immi- 
grants located in the populous cities of the North, had voted 
the Democratic ticket, as the Democratic Party had especi- 
ally cultivated the immigrants and looked after them on their 
arrival, for their party welfare; also the anti-slavery tendency 
of the German immigration and in fostering the religious 
intolerance against the Eoman Church represented largely by 
the Irish immigration, the politicians thought they had enough 
timber to build up the victorious "American" so-called Know- 
Nothing Party. 

The aforementioned platforms of the free Germans were 
Avidely published by the Know-Nothing newspapers as repre- 
senting the sentiments of the German immigrants; — as being 
hostile and inimical to our free institutions and destructive 
of what is cherished as the best and holiest in human nature. 
The politicians made adroit use of some of the articles of 



8 

these foolish conglomeration platforms to inflame the preju- 
dice and hatred towards all immigrants. 

Many well-meaning and intelligent Americans knew that 
these platforms were issued by a comparatively few and er- 
ratic men, as are found among all civilized nations, and 
smiled at the idea of abolishing onr President and Senate 
and other demands of equal absurdity. They did not hold 
the mass of the immigration responsible for this rubbish, yet 
they believed that the natural slow, but sure process of as- 
similation and amalgamation of people of different nationali- 
ties into a homogeneous nation, could be hastened by meas- 
ures and laws, driving them into it; or else depriving them 
of their political privileges and rights, and therefore joined 
the American I'arty. 

This however cannot be said of the brutal resolution 
offered by the Committee on Foreign Relation in the House 
of Eepresentatives in Congress on the 16th of April, 1856. 
It recommended : 

"The adoption of a State policy which will discounte- 
"nance the esprit du corps, now so studiously cultivated 
"among the foreigners in our large cities, which is calcu- 
'dated if not designed to keep them foreigners in feelings, 
"sentiment and habits, though they enjoy the benefits of 
"our institutions and owe allegiance to our laws. Let 
"their separate and distinctive civil and military organiza- 
"tions, wherever they exist, be frowned down, and a policy 
"be pursued which will break up and destroy those foreign 
"organizations, and oblige those belonging to them to iden- 
"tify themselves with the country of their adoption." 

This was clearly an appeal to mob-violence, riot and 
brutal oppression. The corrupt and low jwliticians of the 
American Party took up this hue and cry of jiolitical perse- 
cution, and the rowdy element in our city, which, by a de- 
moralization of our volunteer fire department, had of late 
years become more dominant and lawless, with devilish de- 
light, took the hint which came from so high authority. 

The volunteer fire department had been for many years 
a most useful and effective organization in our city. Our 



9 

best citizens were either tietive or contributive members of it. 
With the rapid increase of the city and the fre([aency of the 
fires, tlie busy mechanics and active business men found it less 
convenient to extinguish tlie numerous small and large fires, 
and their place was taken, to a large extent, by idle young men, 
who preferred the excitement of rushing to and extinguishing 
a fire to the dull routine of an industrious life. The citizens 
liberally supported these volunteer companies and the engine 
houses of ten became the home of idle aiid dissolute men, who 
slept there and drank much of the cheap whiskey. 

The rivalry of the different companies gradually led to 
fights among the disorderly element, and many of the fires were 
the occasion of a general free fight among the firemen. So bit- 
ter became the feud among them, that many incendiary fires 
were started and false alarms given on purpose to entrap or am- 
buscade a hostile company in a part of the city where the com- 
pany to be attacked had but few friends living. The engine 
houses became partly armories and the firemen went to the fires 
armed with revolvers. On the 28th of November, 1848, there 
were not less than five fires in one hour at different parts of the 
city, evidently incendiary to bring about collisions between the 
hostile companies. There were days when from twenty to 
thirty fire alarms were sounded. On Saturday night, the 25th 
of September, 1847, a riot took place between the New Market 
and United fire companies on one side, and the Watchmen 
Company on the other, which lasted about two hours ; the hose 
carriage of the New Market was captured and thrown into the 
water at the Light Street Wliarf. On Saturday night, August 
18th, 1855, a riot took place on Franklin Street, between How- 
ard and Eutaw Streets, among the firemen of the New Market, 
United and Mount Vernon companies ; two men Avere killed 
and many wounded. 

With the advent of the Kuow-Nothing Party the fire com- 
panies drifted more into decided political organizations, be- 
longing either to the Democratic or Know-Nothing Party. 
The rowdy -element had thus become fostered and it now or- 
ganized itself into purely political clubs, who ostensibly formed 
fishing clubs for social purposes, but in reality were formed for 
the purpose of carrying the election in favor of their party by 



10 

ruffiaiiisni, intiniidution, rioting, violence, murder and blood- 
shed. 

Encouraged, winked at, and protected by those in author- 
ity, including therein the police, who were then not yet in uni- 
form, and by the Justices of the Peace, these political ruffians 
especially made assaults, committed robberies in the streets in 
daylight, and many murders on the peaceable law-abiding Ger- 
man inhabitants of our city. 

These tishing clubs, proud of their lawless character and 
conduct, adopted names indicating their ferocious nature. The 
most infamous among them were the " Plug Uglies," the "Tig- 
ers," the " Blood Tubs," the "Pip Paps," the "Wampoonongs," 
the "Hard Times," "Hunters" and "Empire." 

On the I8th of August, 1853, the "Know-Nothing" Party 
held its tirst public mass-meeting in the City of Baltimore in 
Monument Square, and it was attended by nearly five thousand 
persons. Puffianism increased, and instead it being confined to 
the firemen, it spread among the political so-called fishing 
clubs. 

On the 12th of .September, 185(j, in the afternoon, the 
"Pip Pap" and "Wampoonong" clubs, in their red flanell shirts, 
paraded past the Seventeenth Ward House, kept by James 
Clark, on Light, near Henrietta Street, when a bloody riot took 
place; the firing of guns and revolvers was uninterrujited for 
more than half an hour, every man of the two fishing clubs 
was armed with a revolver, and the men of the Seventeenth 
Ward House had shot-guns. 

And old man sawing wood on the pavement, and a youth 
passing at the time, were killed, and some twenty badly wounded 
by shots. Yet not one of the rioters was arrested and none 
punished, although well known to the authorities. 

On Wednesday, the 8th of October following, when Thonias 
Swann was elected Mayor of the city, the entire city Avas in the 
hands of the lawless element, men, frenzied with bad whiskey, 
tiring recklessly their revolvers in the streets and taking a 
devilish delight in shooting and assaulting harmless citizens of 
German or Irish nativity, were in possession of various parts of 



11 

the city ; about 12 o'clock ti desperate struggle taking place 
between the "Eip liaps" and the New Market men, in the Lex- 
ington Market. It turned into a regular battle. A great many 
persons were wounded and carried from the ground, and the 
drug stores near the scene of action were filled with the wounded 
and dying. 

This was however only a preliminary skirmish to the riot- 
ing and fighting done on the coming Presidential election, the 
4th of November, 1856. 

Millard Fillmore was the candidate of the '"Know-Noth- 
ing," James Buchanan of the Democratic and General John C. 
Fremont of the Eepublican Party. It was well known and 
openly declared by the rowdy element, to carry the election by 
violence. Public speakers at the mass-meetings encouraged 
them to use force. They were advised to stick the foreigners 
with the awl, and awls were freely furnished to the boys. A 
political procession paraded Baltimore Street, carrying with 
them a gigantic awl, ten feet long, upright on a wagon. Awls 
figured on the political transparents ; and many a German, es- 
pecially after dark on the streets of Baltimore, had an awl 
driven into his bod3\ On the day of the Presidential election, 
armed and organized associations, belonging to both political 
parties, resorted to firearms, with which they were liberally 
provided, and fought with ferocious and daring recklessness. 
The most serious fights occurred in the Second and Eighth 
"Ward Polls. In these fights eight men were killed and about 
one hundred and fifty wounded. 

During the morning there was considerable ill-feeling dis- 
played at the Second Ward Polls, but up to three o'clock no 
serious disturbance occurred. At that hour a furious fight 
broke out, said to have originated from a stone being thrown 
into the crowd surrounding the window. I'istols were imme- 
diately "drawn and fired by both parties. The Democrats di'ove 
the Know-Nothings from the polls and up into High Street. 
The alarm was carried to the Fourth Ward Polls, and a strong- 
body of Know-Nothings started from there. In the vicinity of 
the Second Ward Polls they were met and driven back. Fur- 
ther reinforcements were then received and the battle renewed, 



12 

A good i)roportioii of l)otli piirties by thib tiiiR' were provided 
with inuskets, AvliiLst others used pistols, and others fought 
with knives and clubs. Both parties fought with determina- 
tion, and in many instances behaved Avith the most reckless dis- 
regard of danger. The battle-ground was spread over portions 
of Fawn, Stiles, Exeter and High Streets, and Eastern Aveuue, 
and the spectacle presented was a terrible and revolting one. 
As either party gained a temporary advantage, men would be 
Seen I'unning, with others shooting at them ; the wounded were 
limping off and being carried away ])y their companions, whilst 
others, begrimed Avith smoke and i)owder, and in some cases 
covered with blood, still kept up the light, now firing singly 
and then in volleys. In the surrounding neighborhood the ut- 
most degree of excitement and consternation prevailed. Chil- 
dren were hastily gathered, the houses closed, and the occu- 
pants in many instances sought their garrets and cellars to be 
out of harm's Avay. The Democrats Avere finally overpoAvered, 
driven aAvay from the polls, and retreated, still fighting, down 
Eastern Avenue. In the neighborhood of the Causeway they 
again made a stand, and there a guerilla Avarfare, carried on 
from the alleys and street-corners, continued for more than an 
hour. 

About three o'clock in the afternoon a report Avas brought 
to the police stationed at the Eighth AVard, that there Avas 
fighting at the Sixth Ward, and assistance Avas asked to quell it. 
The police started, and with them several hundred of the croAvd 
assembled around the polls, Avho in a few moments Avere armed 
Avith muskets, and accompanied by two gangs of boys, each 
dragging small brass cannon on Avheels. They passed along 
the side of the Belair Market, and towards Orleans Street, 
where they Avere met by a concourse of equally as Avild infuri- 
ated men and youths, armed Avith muskets and pistols. A fight 
then commenced, the Eighth "Ward Democrats taking shelter in 
the nuirket-house, and the Sixth and Seventh Ward Know- 
Nothings firing from the fish-market and the corner of Orleans 
Street. They finally rallied on the Eighth Ward party and 
drove them up through the market, accompanied by perfect 
volleys of musketry and the occasional discharge of a swivel. 
The fiijhting through the market Avas continued Avith but little 



13 

intermission i\]) to dark, when both parties retired. The scene 
in tlie vicinity of the Belair Marl^et was of the most sanguinary 
character throughout the afternoon. At times one party Avould 
apparently obtain the better of the other, and they continued to 
drive each otlier back and forward tlirough the market-liouse. 
Tlie Sixth Ward party were reinforced shortly after the battle 
commenced by a detachment of the Seventh AVard and other 
Know-Nothing clubs, who brought with them a small cannon 
on wheels. The Democrats got possession of this cannon at one 
time and were about carrying it off, when it ujiset and the can- 
non fell off' the wheels. Whilst the fight was going on in the 
Belair Market, word was sent to the Central Station for aid. 
High Constable Herring, Deputy Brashears, and Sergeant Tay- 
nian, with a squad of twenty men, repaired to the scene. On 
arriving at the market, they found the Eighth Warders with a 
cannon in position, preparing to fire. They attempted to take 
Y)OSsession of the piece, but were immediately surrounded by an 
infuriated crowd arnijd with muskets. They attempted to 
make arrests, but were foiled by the number and fierceness of 
the assailants, but succeeded, however, in carrying off the can- 
non. The Know-Nothing Party carried the election by a large 
majority, and the city was in the hands of the lawless rowdy 
element. 

The "Baltimore Wecker," a German daily paper, was at 
that time the only paper in Baltimore which supported the Re- 
publican candidates. Most able writers contributed daily vig- 
orous articles to it, expounding the doctrines of the Republican 
Party, principally on the Homestead Law and the Restriction 
of Slavery. The paper was in its tone bold and highly aggres- 
sive. It was the organ of the younger, more recent immigra- 
tion, and had a great deal of talent in its service. Among its 
famous editors we name: Karl Heinrich Schnauffer, August 
Becker, Karl Gottfried Becker and later Wilhelm Rapp and 
General Franz Siegel, — all men driven from the fatherland by 
the miscarried revolution of 1848. 

The Democratic Party was ably represented by the con- 
servative daily, "Der Deutsche Correspondent," edited by Dr. 
Morris Wiener, Dr. Landsberg and by its owner. Col. Frederick 
Raine. The older immigration remained true to the Democratic 



14 

Part}', clue to ii large extent in gratitude of the protection it had 
always afforded them. The rowdy element however made no 
distinction in i(.s riotous conduct l)etween Kepuhlicans and 
Democrats, and in the elections of those years the vote of the 
German element, in common defense against the Know-Nothing 
Party, Avas solid for the Democratic Party. The ruffians now 
dominated in the city, there was hardly a German picnic or 
gathering in or out of the city, which was not disturbed by in- 
roads of armed ruffians, who nsed slung-shots, bowie knives and 
revolvers to intimidate, hurt, wound and kill among the parti- 
cipants of harmless recreation, who were not guilty of any other 
offense than having been born on a foreign .soil. The Turner, 
as well as other organizations, formed military rifle companies 
and thus, armed for self-defense, would march, accompanied by 
the families and friends, to the gardens which were then num- 
erous in the suburbs, to enjoy a few hours in the open air in 
social intercourse, with music, song and gymnastical exercise, 
as used to it in the old country. In those days there were no 
street cars, the men, headed by a music band, would march in 
procession in the middle of the street, and their wives and chil- 
dren would walk on the pavements, the distance of one or two 
miles to the garden, where the picnic was to be held. To escai)e 
the rowdyism, excursions to a greater distance by railroad were 
arranged. The Zion Church on Gay Street went to Magnolia 
Grove by the P. W. &. B. E. E,, to the east side of the Gunpow- 
der river, but the ruffians even followed there and had a bloody 
fight with the officers. 

The lawless element, feeling that the city authorities who 
owed their election to them, were either in accord with or in- 
timidated by them, gained strength in number and spirit of 
violence during the year 1857. It did not confine its attack on 
naturalized citizens only, but every Democratic voter came un- 
der its b;in and persecution. 

A new City Council was to be elected on the 14th of Octo- 
ber. It was known l)efore, to the authorities, that the election 
was to be carried Ijy brutal violence, but no precautionary meas- 
ures Avere taken. The election was a mere mockery, accom- 
panied throughout the city by riot und bloodshed. Sergeant 



15 

William Jordan of the police force was killed in the Eiglith 
Ward. 

In some of the wards naturalized citizens were not allowed 
to vote. Owing to the manner in which the election was con- 
ducted by the party in power, during the day a number of the 
Democratic candidates withdrew from the contest, and quite a 
number of the Judges of Election resigned. 

To give an idea of the manner in which the election was 
carried on, we have the following result : The Know-Nothing 
ticket polled 11,898 votes; the Democratic ticket polled 2,792 
votes; majority for the Know-Nothings 9,106 votes. The Demo- 
cratic ticket polled in the Twentieth Ward one vote, in the 
Eleventh Ward two, in the Fourteenth eight, in the Seventeenth 
ten, and in the Eighth 1,013 votes. Governor Ligon, in his 
message to the Legislature of 1858, gives a narrative of the 
political events which transpired in the City of Baltimore at 
this time, from which we extract the following : 

"At the municipal election in Baltimore, held October, 
1856, an organized force was made apparent at the polls, which 
in its direct influence was felt by naturalized citizens. This 
class of voters was to a considerable extent excluded from the 
exercise of suffrage; many of them beaten, and others overawed 
and deterred by violence from visiting the polls. Such were 
the representations made to me, asserted by a portion of the 
Press of the city, and measurably conceded by all. In the course 
of the day, bloody and destructive riots took place, and the sub- 
sequent record comprehended a list of killed and wounded truly 
appalling. The city was temporarily outlawed by its fury, and 
it is beyond all question Avith me, that could the executive au- 
thority have commanded military power at the moment of the 
emergency, it would have been my duty then to have interposed, 
and overwhelmed a lawless demonstration clearly defiant of the 
municipal police. As the time approached for the Presidential 
election in November, 1856, apprehension generally prevailed 
that recurrence of similar scenes was inevitable. Political sen- 
timent and party animosity were alike demonstrative and violent, 
and peaceable and orderly citizens, and especially naturalized 
citizens, were utterly hopeless of those decencies and proprieties 



16 

essential to the freedom of suffrage. In short, the hirge body of 
citizens composing the Democratic Party within tlie City of 
Baltimore saw the day of election approach, under the assur- 
ance that they would not be suffered to record their votes, and 
on the other hand would be exposed to the consequences of the 
most reckless frauds. 

"On the eve of the Presidential election I proceeded to Bal- 
timore and sought an interview with the Mayor of the city 
(Thomas Swann), in a vain hope of such a co-operation of in- 
fluences, and moral and material power, as would ensure the 
peace of the city, prevent bloodshed, and secure to every citizen, 
without respect to party, the exercise of his political rights. 
My overtures were repulsed with cold civility. I was thrown 
upon my personal and official responsibility, before an impor- 
tant and respectable community, for the initiative in a measure 
which the exigency of the time demanded, and the executive of 
the city was indisposed to adopt. The day of election was then 
too near at hand for me to mature, under my official authority 
and by my independent act, a force adequate to the probable 
necessity which menaced the occasion. I accordingly left the 
full measure of accountability with the Mayor and his subordi- 
nates. How fearful that accountability was, the sanguinary 
deeds of that election day have sufficiently j)roven. Again party 
animosity ran riot throughout the city ; the most desperate en- 
counters took place, in which hundreds of infuriated partisans 
were engaged ; arms of all kinds w^re employed, and bloodshed, 
wounds and death stained the record of the day, and added an- 
other page of dishonor to the annals of the distracted city. I 
retired from the scene, convinced that all this might have been 
prevented, and not without a painful sense of duty unfulfilled." 

The rowdy element was now stronger and more violent than 
ever before in the City of Baltimore. The hated word "for- 
eigners" being constantly applied by the Know-Nothing press, 
to naturalized citizens, they being charged with having no sym- 
pathy with the free institutions of our country, the leaders 
of the German- American element in our city determined to 
make a patriotic political demonstration, by directing the atten- 
tion of the native Americans to the share of the German element 
in this country in the AVar of Independence. The most impressive 



17 

Avay to achieve this, was decided to be the erection of a pub- 
lic moiinment to one of the heroes of German extraction, who 
distinguished himself in the War of Independence, 1776 to 1782. 

There was no lack of such heroes ; in the battle of Long- 
Island there was in the Maryland line a regiment commanded 
in the German language by Col. Ludwig Weltner. Some years 
ago I accidentally discovered the muster-roll of this regiment 
among the archive in the State House at Annapolis. There was 
Major General Herkheimer, the hero and victor of the battle of 
Oriskana, Major-Generals Muhlenberg, DeKalb, General Hiester, 
etc., and Baron von Steuben, the organizer and drill-master of 
the Continental army. The choice fell upon "Baron von Steu- 
ben" as the most prominent, competent and meritorious of these 
Generals. A festival in grand style was arranged for the 2d of 
Septemljer, 1858. Most every German organization took part 
in it. Preparations were made weeks, yea months before, l)y 
the several societies, for a gorgeous procession. The English as 
well as the German papers were full of biographies of the Baron, 
many anecdotes relating to him in the war, were published. 
Baron von Stenben, and Washington at Valley Forge, and the 
whole War for Independence, became the topic of conversation 
among the public. The "Steuben Festival" became an epoch in 
our local history. For many years thereafter the brilliant suc- 
cess of the undertaking was the theme among the German- 
Americans of our city. The day Avas fair, and in the morning 
at seven o'clock, the different societies in bright uniforms, re- 
galias, with national flags and banners, marched to the strains 
of brass bands, through the streets from all parts of the city to 
Broadway, where a procession over a mile in length was formed. 
Not until the celebration of the German Day, October 6th, 1890, 
was there again such a demonstration, wherein all the German- 
Americans united with such patriotic enthusiasm and wherein 
such a large number of native liorn shared, in the common 
brotherhood of our beloved American Nation. At nine o'clock 
the procession started from Broadway. First marched five mili- 
tary companies, each, in different gala dress, with music bands 
playing, then came coaches with the officers, orators and invited 
guests, Mr. A. Schumacher as President, then a large bust of 
General von Steuben on a platfoi'm highly decorated, followed 



18 

by fifteen singing societies with their flags and gorgeous ban- 
ners, six beneficial societies, forty lodges in regalia with ban- 
ners, three rifle companies, gymnastic clubs, etc., etc. The pro- 
cession marched through Baltimore and several other streets 
where the citizens had decorated their houses, to "Rullman's 
Garden'' on the Frederick Road, now Avenue, near the junction 
of Baltimore Street. An immense concourse of people, among 
them many natives, assembled there. After an hour's rest, the 
8})eaking commenced. Dr. E. Wiss opened the meeting in a 
short vigorous speech, then followed Kev. Henry Scheib in a 
German, and Hon. Joshua T. Vansant in an English oration, Dr. 
Wisz in German, Wm, H. Young in English, Hon. Thos. Swann, 
the Mayor, in English, and Mr. Eberle, of Washington, in a 
German speech. The financial part of the festival was also a 
success. This imposing demonstration, the most brilliant of its 
kind up to that time ever held in Baltimore, of the patriotism 
and firm attachmeiit to our political institutions by the German- 
American element, satisfied all the intelligent native born, if 
they ever had any doubts, of the sincerity of their political al- 
legiance to their adojited country. The Know-Nothing press be- 
came more just and mild in speaking of their naturalized fellow 
citizens, what effect however it had on the rowdy element which 
still infested the citv, we will relate in our next contribution, 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




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